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The Six Bardos

I prostrate to the exalted gurus.

In the bardo between appearances and emptinessthere is no view of permanence or nihilism.Made-up theories, I’ve none.Instead I know what’s unborn, what’s beyond the intellect:that’s the view of this beggar-mendicant.

Among realized practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among realized practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

In the bardo between bliss and emptinessthere’s no reference point for the practice of shamatha.Instead of fighting my mind,I rest in the innate state, not moving, undistracted:that’s the meditation of this beggar-mendicant.

Among experienced practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among experienced practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

In the bardo between passion and no passionthere is no trace, no place at all for defiled bliss.I am no hypocrite ¾I have no use for wrong livelihood.Now appearances arise as my aid:that’s the conduct of this beggar-mendicant.

Among yogin practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among yogin practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

In the bardo between being flawed and flawlessthere is no pure, not at all, and nothing impure.I am free of deceit; I am no impostor.I take my mind as my witness:that’s the samaya of this beggar-mendicant.

Among disciplined practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among disciplined practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

In the bardo between samsara and nirvÏÚa,those sentient and those enlightened demonstrate no difference.I look for no results that come from hopes or fears.Now suffering rises up as bliss:that’s the result for this beggar-mendicant.

Among siddha practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among siddha practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

In the bardo between words and what they refer to,there are no terms or conventions that scholars use.Now my doubts are all gone;all appearances are dharmakaya:that’s the realization of this beggar-mendicant.

Among learned practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed. Among learned practitioners— now I won’t feel ashamed.

Composed by Rechungpa. From the later chapter of White Rock Vajra Fortress.Translated according to the explanations of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche by Elizabeth Callahan with music by Patrick Reilly. New York, France, and Belgium, July 2002. Tibetan page 392. Translation copyright 2012, Elizabeth Callahan